One-vote margin in Ilwaco mayor’s race

Most other races decided Tuesday, won’t have to wait a week for next count

By AMY NILE

anile@chinookobserver.com

Published on November 8, 2017 6:28AM

Last changed on November 8, 2017 6:40AM

SOUTH BEND — In the race to become Ilwaco’s next mayor, city councilman and volunteer fireman Gary Forner had a one-vote lead over of retired nurse and educator Sam Lund on Tuesday evening, according to early results released by the Pacific County Auditor’s Office. So far, the two hopefuls have 82 and 81 votes, respectively. That’s 49.6 to 50.3 percent.

Port of Peninsula

Retired Port Manager Mary DeLong is leading by 16 votes over former bank president Dennis Long in the race for Port of Peninsula Commissioner. That’s 716 to 695 votes, or 50.7 to 49.3 percent.

Long Beach council

Councilwoman Holli Kemmer was leading the race 212 to 83 votes to keep her seat from former councilman Mark Perez on Tuesday evening. Kemmer earned almost 71.8 of the vote versus 28.14

Volunteer fireman Kevin “Isa” Cline is leading the race for a City Council position Sid’s Market cashier John Nechvatal with 151 to 107 votes. That’s 58.3 to 41 percent.

With about a 32 percent turnout of registered voters countywide, it’s clear many Pacific County citizens didn’t get around to casting ballots. Those who waited until Tuesday to mail ballots won’t see their results reflected until the final vote count next Tuesday at 10 a.m.

State Senate flip

Although he was not on the ballot, state Sen. Dean Takko had cause for celebration Tuesday night. He appears to be on his way back to chairing the Washington State Senate’s Local Government Committee.

In one of the nation’s most closely watched and costly legislative races, Democrat Manka Dhingra leads Jinyoung Lee Englund in the 45th District Senate race 55.4 to 46.6 percent. If Dhingra’s lead holds, her win will return the Senate to Democratic control, where Takko is expected to resume the top leadership post of the committee that oversees state regulations and funding for local governments.